NFL Draft Order
The National Football League is the pinnacle of North American professional sports, captivating billions of fans globally who will watch the NFL this year, enthusiastically supporting their favorite teams and players—and eagerly hoping they beat the spread. Each year, the NFL draws approximately $100 billion in betting handle, with the Super Bowl alone accounting for about one-sixth of that staggering amount. With comprehensive NFL odds and NFL spreads available, enthusiasts looking to bet in Canada can engage deeply, placing educated bets on their preferred teams throughout the thrilling season.
Draft Picks
Originating in 1936, the NFL Draft helps balance competition by allowing the weaker teams to pick first, thus improving their rosters by adding top young talent. While the Draft is a gateway for most players into the league, there are notable exceptions who succeed even without being drafted.
Draft Order
The order of the NFL Draft is designed to maintain league parity. The team with the worst record picks first, while the Super Bowl champions pick last. Teams that did not make the playoffs are ordered before those that did, with various tiebreakers applied if necessary.
Compensatory Picks
Beyond the standard 224 draft picks, the NFL may allocate up to 32 compensatory picks between Rounds 3 and 7. These are awarded to teams that lost more or better compensatory free agents than they acquired the previous year.
NFL Draft Rules
The NFL Draft has precise rules, particularly regarding the timing of selections. Teams must make their picks within allotted times, ranging from ten minutes in the first round down to four minutes in the seventh round.
Player Eligibility
To be eligible for the draft, players must have been out of high school for at least three years and, if they attended college, must have exhausted their college eligibility. Players who meet these criteria are vetted by NFL Player Personnel staff before the draft.
Supplemental Draft
For players who miss the regular draft deadline, the NFL offers a supplemental draft. This draft follows a different order and allows teams to bid on players by forfeiting an equivalent pick in the next year’s regular draft.